THE EFFECT OF WORK ENVIRONMENT ON EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY (A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL MINISTRY OF POWER, WORKS AND HOUSING, ABUJA)

CHAPTER ONE:

INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Human effort in organization is indispensable. It comprises a complicated phenomenon to managers of organization to comprehend. Accordingly, it is believed that every behavior is a goal directed. Therefore, for an organization or individual to involve in any productive venture, it must have underlying factors including the individual in that direction. Thus, the effect of work environment in actualizing set target for the organization must be in good condition. A work environment can be identified as the place that one works, which means the milieus around a person. Work environment is the social and professional environment in which an individual is supposed to relate with a number of people. The work environment has a pronounced impact upon employee productivity. Work environment simply mean those processes, systems, structures, tools or conditions in the workplace that impact favorably or unfavorably employee productivity. The work environment also involve policies, rules, culture, resources, working relationships, work location, and internal and external environmental factors, all of which affects the methods those employees carryout their job functions. It is the standard of the employee’s workplace environment that most impacts on the level of employee’s motivation and subsequent performance. How well they work with the organization, majorly with their immediate environment, influences to a great extent their error rate, level of innovation and collaboration with other employees, absenteeism and, ultimately, how long they stay in the job. The environment that an individual is required to work in can have a significant impact on their capability to execute the tasks that they have been assigned to do. This has a way of affecting productivity and health and well-being of employee. The main factors fall into two groups, those that are moved by procedures, protocols and management requirements and the factors that emanate from premises, office or factory design. Factors that are Management driven include the development of Organization plans such as the allocation of responsibilities at all levels of the organization, definition of job descriptions and the degree of access to the management and administrative support needed to complete their tasks; Working patterns, shi-working, break times, absence or holiday cover; and Health and safety policies, including the provision of training, development of conducive working practices and the adequate supply of equipment.